The Jaguars throughout the season have talked about going 1-0 each week, with Executive Vice President of Football Operations Tony Boselli fond of saying each week’s game is the most important in franchise history because it’s the next game.
“That’s what we talked about this morning, was 1-0 again this week,” Coen said. “We’re in the dance now, we’re in the tournament, so we’ve got to go 1-0 each week, but take it week in, week out.”
Players on Wednesday echoed Coen’s sentiments – that the high-profile, one-and-done nature of Sunday won’t change their methodical day-to-day preparation.
“We get to play another game this week,” Jaguars defensive end Josh Hines-Allen said. “It’s a great opportunity for us to maximize what we can do and be on a platform where people can watch our games everywhere and see what kind of team we are.”
The Jaguars, after 4-1 start to the season, lost three of four games before winning their final eight regular-season games – their longest winning streak ever entering the postseason. They won six of those eight games by at least 14 points – staying a game ahead of the AFC South runner-up Houston Texans (12-5) through that stretch.
“All the guys in this locker room have been winning all season,” Jaguars defensive end Travon Walker said. “We’re obviously used to winning at this point. It’s time to continue to keep building.”
The Bills enter the postseason as perhaps the most experienced team in the 14-team playoff field, having made seven consecutive playoff appearances. They lost in the AFC Championship Game last season, winning five consecutive AFC East titles from 2020-2024.
“There’s nothing they do that’s going to make us change anything from what we’re supposed to be doing,” Walker said.”
The Jaguars, after winning the AFC South title in 2022, missed the playoffs with a Week 18 loss to the Tennessee Titans in 2023 before finishing 4-13 last season. Fourteen players, including Walker and quarterback Trevor Lawrence – and seven other starters – remain from that team, with 15 Jaguars veterans having been to the postseason with other NFL teams.
“We’re more of a mature team,” Hines-Allen said. “We’ve been there before. A lot of these guys have played in big games. We have brought guys in who have played in big-time games.
“We have leadership that can keep the locker room in check, make sure we don’t get too high or too low. We’re a more mature team this year. Our expectations is to do what we do best, play to our standard and play with that edge that everybody usually has in each game.”